Worlmarch

The Worlmarch is a fictional fantasy world setting created by author Tom Brown in 2021.

Overview
The lands of the Worlmarch encompass a landmass with an area of 105,328 square miles. Its current population is approximately 5.1 million people. It is ruled over by an enlightened monarchy.

Government
At its pinnacle, the kingdom is ruled by an enlightened monarch known as the King (or Queen) of Worlmarch. Theirs is the final word on all major decisions with regards to all critical concerns. Their heir apparent - the eldest child or grandchild - is known as the Princess Royal.

Beneath the monarch is the Privy Council, a body of fourteen lords and ladies who serve to advise the sovereign and translate their directives into workable policy. These nobles are among the few with unfettered access to the Royal presence, and are the main conduit through which other nobles seek audience with the sovereign. Principal of the Council members is the Secretary of State, the monarch's most senior adviser and their right hand, responsible for coordinating the bureaucracy.

Each region of the country is divided into several shires, each of which is overseen by a noble lord or lady who administers the land and communities within on behalf of the Crown. Every city, town, and village is led by a mayor, first among equals of a popularly elected council of burgesses responsible for overseeing local affairs. The mayors of the major metropolises are known as lord mayors.

Monarch
The current monarch of Worlmarch is the Queen Juliora, fourteenth sovereign of the House of Neador to sit upon the Sapphire Throne. Now 71 years of age, she has reigned for 42 years. She is renowned throughout Ethredore as a just and honorable queen, who governs with a firm but fair hand. She has on multiple occasions demonstrated a formidable grasp of diplomacy and military strategy, and is also known to be a cunning player of the game of statecraft and intrigue. In many instances, she will work behind the scenes through her agents to manipulate a situation to a conclusion she considers satisfactory. Her role in these efforts is very rarely (if ever) known by most, and no official record of these secretive maneuvers has ever been kept.

At her side watching and learning the ways of the royal court is her eldest grandchild, Leoric Neador, the Prince Royal. After the death of his father, Leoric was forced to end his twelve years of service with the Royal Army and return to the capital to take on the role of heir apparent. Like his grandmother, Prince Leoric is described as diligent and highly intelligent, gifted of a perceptive and crafty mind. His years of military service, combined with his Guild education and training as a wizard, have enabled him to see and address issues from numerous angles. Having earned a reputation during his Army years for being flexible and able to think on his feet, he has translated his varied talents into his new role as his grandmother's successor. There is very little doubt among the nobles and ministers of Juilora's court that when his day comes, Leoric will be a formidable and capable king.

Divine Light
The vast majority of the kingdom are adherents of the Church of the Divine Light, a faith centered on the worship of a benevolent, omnipotent deity known as the Lord of Illumination or the Radiant One. Followers of the religion are known simply as "the Faithful". The faith focuses on the importance of choice - all people have free will, given to them by the Lord of Illumination, and with it the power to make decisions. Choosing between right and wrong, everyone is judged after death for their choices and will either earn eternal tranquility and rest in the Celestial Gardens or eternal torment in the Halls of Darkness. Similarly, the faith focuses on the importance of family and community in society, and the positive force that one can be. People are encouraged to help those around them in need, and to show compassion for the less fortunate. In this way, it reflects the Marcher belief that family and community are the most vital parts of every person's life, and the important role they play in one's day to day.

The seat of the Church is known as the Rosecourt Cathedral, located in the Colsetter Parish district of the city of Roseminster, on the Midford Plains. From there, the leader of the church, the Curate, guides the faith and serves as the foremost voice of the Church to the kingdom. Below their authority are the Prelates, senior clergy who lead the cathedrals in the cities and significant chapels in other important areas. The senior priests of this rank constitute the membership of the Prelate Assembly, the council which advises the Curate in governance of the Church, and which elects a new Curate upon the passing of the current one. The junior clergy are known as Deacons, who lead the chapels in towns and villages and serve to attend to the spiritual needs of local congregants, while also supporting charitable and outreach efforts in their community. Those who are in the process of studying to become ordained are known as acolytes. These aspirants will spend several years in intensive study and spiritual contemplation before being assigned to assist a prelate and deacon for a term of two years, learning hands on the duties and responsibilities of a member of the laity.

All clergy wear a caramel colored cassock, with each rank having unique features to the garment to denote their rank. Deacons wear an unadorned cassock with no trim. Prelates wear a cassock with beige cuffs and hems. The Curate wears a cassock with beige cuffs and hems, with elaborate patterns of dark silver sewn into the hems. All clergy wear a caramel skullcap.

The present Curate of the Church is Father Vadrin Cossad. He has led the Church for sixteen years, and has been a member of the clergy for 44 years. An elegant, respected man, he approaches his duties from the perspective of treating all of the faithful as his children, guiding them in the ways of the Divine Light and shepherding them towards a life built upon a foundation of vibrant, dynamic belief. He is often described as a man of singular wit gifted of an impish sense of humor, whose presence lends a distinguished air to any function he attends.

Silent Path
A secretive religion, this mysterious faith focuses its worship on an obscure entity called the Silent One. Little is known about the faith, as it’s small membership makes it difficult to track down and study their practices. The religion is known to have various cult aspects to it, including claims that adherents participate in animal sacrifices and other bizarre rituals. In several instances, residents of remote villages will report unusual activity, such as a neighbor behaving oddly, or the disappearance of several farm animals. In most cases, by the the time Church inquisitors or Royal agents arrive to investigate, there is no trace of those responsible for the strange goings on, aside from remnants of eviscerated animals or unusual incense pots left smoldering, typically in small caves or forest clearings.

Wizarding Guild
The arcane order of the kingdom, the Guild operates under Royal charter to fulfill four important duties - to teach the disciplined and responsible use of Magick; to preserve and protect the traditions and techniques of the Craft; to locate, acquire and study the arcane artifacts and treasures of the land; and, to identify and neutralize those arcanists who violate their oath of service and abuse their powers in order to turn them order to Royal authorities for punishment.

At its pinnacle, the Guild is led by the High Magister (or Magistra if female). They serve as the face of the order, and it’s direct link to the Royal Court. Under their authority is the Arcane Council, a nine-member body which both advises the High Magister and, alongside them, decided upon important issues facing the order. Members of the Council hold the rank of Archmagister (or Archmagistra if female).

Under the High Magister and the Council are the master arcanists, the most senior rank of magi who have passed the Third Seal trial and been acknowledged as the most capable and experienced of the organization. The masters serve as the teachers and guides of the order. Below them, adept arcanists are the accomplished, recognized senior magi who have passed the Second Seal trial and are its most prevalent representatives to the Royal government and to the communities of Worlmarch.

Under the masters and adepts are the journeymen arcanists, who have passed the First Seal trial at the conclusion of their apprenticeship and been granted the honor of being considered a full magi. The lowest rank of the order is that of apprentice arcanist. These young aspiring magi are identified after they experience their Unbinding - as the first manifestation of their powers is known, typically happening when they are aged five or six - and their families approached with an offer to teach and care for the child. They spend the next ten years in a carefully arranged system of intensive study, instruction, and practicing of their powers as they learn from a master who is assigned to teach them.

Every arcanist who reaches the rank of adept is granted the honorific of "magister". From then on, this is the preferred mode of address for any adept arcanist or master arcanist. Master arcanists can also be addressed as "Your Eminence", similar to prelates of the Church of the Divine Light.

The Guild operates within a strict code of service to the people and a disciplined, respectful approach to the use of their powers. It has followed this code for nearly 500 years, since the end of the Third Mage War. Its members provide a range of basic services to the communities and citizens of the kingdom, while seeking out and studying the magical mysteries of the land and remaining at the ready to defend the nation in the event of a foreign assault of the great island.

Every full member of the Guild wears a cobalt blue robe. Apprentices do not wear the robe, and only receive it when they are made a journeyman. No differentiation in color or trim exists regardless of rank.

The current head of the Guild is Archmagistra Violette Humilio, who has held her post for nearly two decades. Now 74 years old, she has lived, worked with, and studied the arcane arts for 69 years. Her reputation as a wizard is long established, and she is far and above considered the single most powerful arcanist in the kingdom. Both inside the Guild and out, she is known for being a blunt, demanding, and strict mistress, maintaining the traditions of the organization and insisting that the arcane education of every apprentice be tough and challenging. Similarly, she is well known for preferring actions to words, and has a penchant for responding to elaborate, verbose presentations with simple one or two-word comments. A lifelong friend and confidant of the Queen, she is a frequent guest at banquets at the palace and regularly attends the Royal Court.

Lamplighters
A mysterious and mercurial organization that focuses the skills and talents of its members on the arts of larceny and thievery, the Lamplighters exist in the shadows and fulfill a unique, but useful, niche within the kingdom's society. Its services can be contracted by one party to acquire items or vital information considered useful for specific fees or other accepted forms of compensation. Commonly, the Lamplighters do not care about the potential political, economic, or societal ramifications of their work, only that they are being paid to do what they do best - infiltrate secure places, acquire the object(s) their clients desire, and test their skills in a wide range of unique and challenging situations.

Similarly, the Lamplighters will often engage in thievery or other crimes for no other reason than to enrich themselves and further their own interests. Numerous priceless treasures or valuable artifacts that have gone missing over the centuries are blamed on the organization, and general public opinion suspects that in most situations, these accusations are more true than many would prefer to admit.

In the nearly five centuries since the House of Neador came to the Sapphire Throne and united all of Worlmarch under their banner, the Lamplighters have resisted repeated efforts by authorities to infiltrate the organization and learn more about its inner workings and those who lead it. Stray rumors persist, however, that the organization is led by a figure known only as "the Hand".

Society
Worlmarch functions under a system known simply as the "Noble Structure". In it, every tier of social status is clearly defined by ancient tradition. In every level of this hierarchy, it is the duty of that tier to see to the welfare of those beneath them. In this way, the monarch sees to the welfare of the entire state, the lords and ladies to the merchants and clergy and common folk. The commoners of Worlmarch are expected to be diligent in their work and upright in their dealings, that the justice and peace of the kingdom may be upon them. The tiers of the Noble Structure are as thus -


 * Monarch
 * Heir Apparent
 * Other princes and princesses
 * Lords and Ladies
 * Clergy, merchants, arcanists
 * Commoners

In social situations, each tier of society has particular ways they are addressed -


 * Monarch
 * in conversation / writing - Your Majesty
 * when announced - His/Her Majesty the King/Queen
 * Consort to the Monarch
 * in conversation / writing - Your Majesty (if Queen Consort), Your Royal Highness (if Prince Consort)
 * when announced - Her Majesty the Queen Consort, His Royal Highness the Prince Consort
 * Heir Apparent
 * in conversation / writing - Your Royal Highness
 * when announced - His/Her Royal Highness, the Prince/Princess Royal
 * Other members of the Royal family
 * in conversation / writing - Your Highness
 * when announced - His/Her Highness the Prince/Princess
 * Lords and Ladies of the Privy Council
 * in conversation / writing - Your Eminence
 * when announced - His/Her Eminence the Lord/Lady of 
 * Lords and Ladies
 * in conversation / writing - Your Grace
 * when announced - His/Her Grace the Lord/Lady of 

Cities
There are eight metropolises (cities with a population equal to or greater than 25,001 persons) in the kingdom. Each is a hub of trade, industry, learning and social activity in the region where they are located. They are all connected together by an extensive network of well-traveled highways.

Almerry Coast
The southern coast of the nation, known for its mild weather and the extensive fishing the region engages in. Located on the coast are the prominent port metropolises of Portsgrave and Eastgate, the two main hubs through which trade to and from foreign lands occurs.

Baston Mountains
The mountainous region in the north of the kingdom, this pair of mountain ranges running north to south parallel to one another are the second-highest in the land. They are known as the East Bastons and West Bastons, respectively. The central settlement in the region is the city of Elderhaven. Its primary industries are ore and precious gem mining and metalworking.

Bellsover Heights
A mid-height plateau to the north of the Ernmore Mountains, the region is home to the city of Highcross and is a hub of light agriculture and famous for its high quality fruits and vegetables.

Calden Valley
Nestled between the Ernmore and Parandor Mountains, this broad, low valley is known for its mild weather and is a hub of agriculture and forestry. The central settlement in the region is the city of Winvale.

Ernmore Mountains
The largest mountain range in the kingdom, it runs east to west near the geographic center of the nation. The region is home to the city of Millpost. Its key industries are mining, forestry, stoneworking, and metalworking.

Esterdon Valley
Situated between the East and West Baldon Mountains, the region is known for its mild spring and summer and chilly winter weather. It is home to light forestry and mining.

Gancaster Plains
West of the Garring Forest, this region of rolling plains are a hub of agriculture and animal husbandry. Its shores are referred to commonly as the Gancaster Coast, where numerous fishing villages are located. The central settlement of the region is the metropolis of Riverview.

Garring Forest
The smallest of the kingdom's forest regions, Garring is located at the western end of the Calden Valley. It is home to the city of Hazlemere, and is a hub of forestry.

Ivory Coast
The northern coast of the kingdom, wrapping around the northern terminus of the Baldon Mountains. The signature feature in this region are the high white stone cliffs. The central settlement of the region is the metropolis of Fairharbour, the most northerly of the major cities. It is a hub of fishing and stone quarrying.

Malgrave Forest
This expansive forest is situated just north of Selsmire Downs and south of the Baldon Mountains and Esterdon Valley. Lush and verdant, it is a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees. It is a hub of forestry, woodworking, and a variety of services related to construction, carriage building and wheelmaking, and furniture crafting. The main settlement of the region is Greenwell.

Midford Plains
A broad, rolling plains region of the central southern region of the kingdom, the Midford is situated north of the Almerry Coast and south of the Parandor Mountains. The region is considered the heartland of the nation and a part of its lush breadbasket. It is home to two major metropolises - the capital city of Leesoft and the city of Roseminster. Aside from agriculture, the regional industries are wide and varied.

Parandor Mountains
The smallest mountain range of the kingdom, running east to west parallel to the Ernmore Mountains to the north on the southern periphery of the Calden Valley. The region is home to the city of Bronzewater and is a hub of mining and related industry.

Selsmire Downs
A flatlands region to the north of the Bellsover Heights, this region is home to the city of Stillwick. Animal husbandry is the primary industry here, as is animal husbandry. Extensive farms raise a large portion of the kingdom's cows, pigs, and chickens. Horses are also a prominent part of local industry.

Waydon Coast
The entire eastern coast of the kingdom, this area is prominent for its light shipbuilding and fishing industries. The city of Dawnport, central settlement of the region, is also a major port through which imports and exports flow.